mirror, mirror

Ok… so I am gonna be real with ya’ll for a moment. This isn’t something we as women love to admit we struggle with.

But, after speaking with a few different women this week on different occasions… about the same exact topic… I realized this struggle is serious.

It’s real for me. Real for most women.

BODY IMAGE.

Come on, it’s true. Most of us notice the woman who just had a baby and is back into normal jeans a month later. We notice the woman who seems to have perfect hair and we wonder is it just naturally that fabulous? We notice the girl who’s taller… shorter… probably something we aren’t. But isn’t this just something women do?

The question is: why do we care so much?

Ive had a lot of body image thoughts swirling around in my head the last few weeks.

It started on the cruise for my 30th birthday. One, I had just turned 30. I realize that things are going to change now… they are going to get… um lower.. wrinkled.. and well you catch my drift. So I have that in my head… and I look around while we sit on the pool deck at all of these beautiful young women. They are strolling in their itty bitty bikinis… no stretch marks from having children… everything is still perky (haha)… and I did it! I was comparing myself. Immediately I felt fat, scarred, and old.

Also, everyone knows you gain a few lbs on a cruise (hello, tons of delicious food). So, since I have been home.. I have really being struggling with the way I look.

I know it isn’t right. I know it’s getting out of control in my head.

DISCLAIMER: Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely think eating right, exercising, getting proper rest, and most importantly, spending time with the Lord are all important parts in taking care of the temple that He has given us (our body).

But, the problem with my thoughts lately… they are convincing me that my appearance is what gives me VALUE. And that is so far from the truth!

When the Lord formed us in the womb, I am certain He was thinking about more than our stretch marks, varicose veins, and saggy skin. He was thinking about the person He created us to be. The person He gave gifts, talents, and a life with purpose to! Our value comes from Him and for what He has in store for our lives.

“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” Psalm 139:13-16

Thanks for listening to my confession/rant.

I am planning on continuing to do my best to take care of this body I have… but I am going to keep the “why I am doing it?” at the front of my mind.

And not only that, I want to teach my daughters how to view themselves the way the Lord does! Not the way the world does.

What about you girls? Anyone want to share a time they have struggled in this area? What are some things that have encouraged you?

Plus, how awesome are these definitions of who we are and the verses to show you that truth!?!

Comments

Thanks for this! I too struggle with comparing myself.. Not only in appearance, but also looking at others lifestyles, jobs, success, etc. I think social media has fueled this for a lot of us! We need more women who are willing to be open like this!

I struggle with this too. I think it’s part of our society, and the enemy’s tools to discourage us. I’ll be honest here. It is something I pick up and then have to Lay down almost daily. You are right. We need to focus on how God sees us not how we see us compared to others. We are uniquely created. It’s who we are that matters not what we think we need to look
Like. You are beautiful Inside and out Jen. I’m very proud of you and love you very much. Let’s encourage each other to remember these truths and build up the women in our lives.

I love this. Almost 5 months pp, and I still get a weird sad/emotional feeling sometimes when he’s nursing. Just the realization that my body will never be the same is a bit overwhelming sometimes, I guess. It’s hard, being only 23 with stretch marks, sagginess, leaking breasts…and then bikini-clad peers right and left. But I’m realizing that I’d much rather be gorgeous on the inside than the outside.